₦airaland Forum

Phranx1:
Only God Almighty knows those that truly righteous.

Ken4Christ:
Those who condemn it use the excuse that Jesus and his Apostles didn't instruct the present day church to do it.

Ken4Christ:
The subject is tithe. My point is that those condemning it should practice what Jesus taught about giving. And those who receive it should review how they administer it.
Both parties have flaws.

MaxInDHouse:
WRONG!

When God called the Israelites out of Egypt He promised to take them to a place where they will be established as an independent nation and secure them so that no nation no matter how mighty can make them to tremble! Exodus 29:45

He also said they will become a nation of priests {Exodus 19:6} so there will be sacrifices and other sacred deeds among these people therefore God told them that the inheritance should be shared among all the tribes except one tribe: LEVITES! Numbers 18:20

So when sharing the inheritance of Israel Levites were exempted and God commanded the rest of their brothers that is the remaining children of Jacob to make use of their own inheritance then after they've realized gain they should divide their gain into ten parts and bring one out of the ten for the Levites in the Tabernacle! Deuteronomy 14:26

This means it's not tenth part of what they were given that they are to bring rather it's the tenth part of what they gain!

The Levites also must pay tithes and who are to benefit from these? It's the orphans, widows and stranded travelers in Israel so the orphans, widows and stranded travelers are completely exempted from paying of tithes as they are on the receiving end. Deuteronomy 14:29

This is what the Israelites continue with until they were captured and taken into exile in Babylon but when God brought back the Jews to their land pure worship was restored and what happened? Most Jews don't want to pay the tithes anymore they felt since the nation has been conquered and they're no longer with the rest of the ten tribes it's no longer reasonable to go paying tithes in the rebuilt temple. Nehemiah 13:10
That's why God sent Malachi to remind them that it's because of pure worship that He brought them back to the promised land and they are robbing Him if they stop paying tithe as Levites wouldn't have food to eat neither would orphans, widows or stranded travelers! Malachi 3:6-11

So is tithe paying required after the religion of the Jews has been discarded?

Since the temple was destroyed in the year 70.c.e the duties of Levites ended and their services (slaughtering animals, burning incense and other things) is no longer required so there's no reason for worshipers of God to pay tithe again because what Christians practice today has nothing to do with sacrifices or burning of incense with is the primary reason the tithe was instituted! Hebrews 7:5-12

Thank you, God bless you and may you have PEACE!

paxonel:
lies, that's not what they say.

Those who condemn it are saying that tithing was a practice of another religion entirely, not Christianity.
Another religion entirely in the sense that the old testament where tithing was practiced was Judaism and not Christianity.
And that even the current day people who still practice judaism do not practice tithing anymore and they are one of the most successful people on earth currently.

And that the practice portray people in church to be a gathering of a very foolish and myopic people who lack scriptural understanding thus willingly allowing themselves to be used and scammed.

So tithing in church is scam

I don't know why Africans like suffering themselves for nothing.
If you want to give to the church why not give according to what you have with a willing heart?

Ken4Christ:
Tithing didn't start with the Law of Moses. Abraham paid tithe several years before the Law of Moses was given. Jacob, his grandson vowed to give God a tenth of what he receives. He didn't limit it to gains.
So, the church pays tithe because Abraham, our father of faith did. And the scripture says that we should walk in the footsteps of Abraham.

MaxInDHouse:
When was it incorporated into law?

Ken4Christ:
In the wilderness, after they left Egypt.

MaxInDHouse:
So it's when God announced to the Israelites that tithing became official among worshipers of the true God not when Abraham paid that's why his descendants never practiced it until it was incorporated into the laws given to them.

But those laws includes animal sacrifices and burning of incense so do you still make animal sacrifices and incense burning today?
If you don't then all such practices has ended with the old covenant! Hebrews 7:11-12

Ken4Christ:
We give our tithes not based on the law of Moses but based on principles. This is not even my point. My point is those who say that tithe ended with the law should practice what Jesus taught. Jesus said that we should sell our assets and give to the poor. This is more than 10%. To the young rich ruler, he aaked him to sell everything. This is giving 100%. So tithing is just a child's play compared to what Jesus demands of us.
So, you must do one of them. And we know that 10% is much easier than giving away 100%. You can't decide to give nothing. You must give something. The minimum is 10%. If you can't do that, you are a thief and a robber. You are overly stingy and you will die in poverty. Giving opens opportunities for more blessings. The more you give, the more chances of getting blessed.

MaxInDHouse:
You're getting it all wrong!

How many of his disciples sold everything they had?

The man wanted to become part of those who will rule with Jesus in heaven so Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give to the poor.

Who are the poor?

Jesus said:

"Blessed are the poor (in spirit) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:3

The poor in spirit are Jesus' anointed brothers who were given the task to gather faithful and obedient humans throughout the earth this people are poor in that the assignment is really weighty therefore they need the support of humans physically, materially, emotionally and spiritually to succeed in their assignments {Matthew 25:34-40} so if anyone wants to do what Jesus told that man he or she will give away whatever he had to support Jesus' anointed brothers and such a person will have treasures in heaven! Matthew 6:19-21
For instance there are Christians in the first century who gave up their businesses or jobs to join Jesus' disciples and become lifetime pioneers like Paul, today many are also doing the same by willing all their properties to the Watchtower and becoming preachers and teachers from house to house doing the work of God's kingdom.
Some had shares in big companies they also willed all their benefits to Watchtower that's what some Ex-jws noticed but instead of them to ask why these people are doing so they started looking for ways to discredit God's organization claiming that the Watchtower invested in weapon production whereas it's the primary investor who gave up his shares to support the kingdom work.
So if you hear that Jehovah's Witnesses are the richest organization on planet earth don't be surprised none of our leaders has any property worth being noted everything belongs to Jesus who is working with his true disciples in this endtime! Matthew 28:20

Do we practice tithing to make this work?

NO!

Ken4Christ:
The disciples of Jesus forsook all to follow Jesus. So, they already made their sacrifices.
The early Church sold their possession and it was shared to those in need.
Jesus taught an eternal principle. His message was not just for the audience of his days. So if you don't want to practice tithing, do what Jesus instructed us to do. Period.

MaxInDHouse:
The early Christians didn't practice tithing that is my point!

Ken4Christ:
I agree. But they practiced what was more than tithing. Tithing is 10%. Some gave 100%. Others well above 70% of what they have. So, please start selling your assets and give to the poor. This is the new testament teaching. Luke 12:33. But if you can't do it, then begin with the 10% and gradually increase your giving over time.

For those who receive tithes, my advice is that they should set apart a percentage of it and reach out to the needy and poor in their midst and around them.

MaxInDHouse:
NO ADDITION NO SUBTRACTION! Revelations 22:18-19

Ken4Christ:
I supported my claim with scriptures from the very lips of my Lord Jesus. And in Matthew 28:19-20, he commanded that we should go and teach everything he has commanded. And one of his commands says we should sell whatsoever we have and give to the poor. If you can't give 10%, is it selling your assets to help the poor that you will do?

MaxInDHouse:
Jesus didn't command us to sell our assets and give it away, the man who came to Jesus was a politician who lives a celebrity lifestyle so to become so lowly and start going to pay uninvited visits to people in his neighborhood will be difficult for him due to his social status that's what Jesus admonished him to sell away and things that may warrant him being the focus of most people when he's with fellow Christians.
To fully understand try to imagine people like Goodswill Akpabio, Babajide Sanwoolu, Femi Gbajabiamila to carry Bible with another fellow Christian knocking on people's doors with the aim of preaching from house to house, do you think householders will listen to what they're preaching?
Of course not! In fact residents in such areas will storm the street waiting for him to come and answer series of questions regarding how their government has failed woefully in meeting the needs of their subjects!

Therefore if such a person wants to cross over from the world kingdom to God's kingdom and become part of those who will rule with Christ then he must do away with all the things that has to do with worldly kingdom along with all it's riches. That's what happened there.

If it's about selling everything we have and giving to the poor as you are thinking do you think a Christian will be able to take care of his immediate family?

So you're getting it all wrong. Jesus didn't command his disciples to sell everything they had that admonish is for politicians and those in governance whose lifestyle is all about celebrity that needs such not all Christians, that is why Jesus never said the same thing to others!

Ken4Christ:
You will perish due to ignorance. And also because you are in a cult group where you are fed with only lies.

Did Jesus give the instructions below to celebrities?

Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

The early church did it. We're they celebrities?

Leave that cult group, you will not hear. Worse is your final destination in the pit of hell.

Ken4Christ:
Tithing didn't start with the Law of Moses. Abraham paid tithe several years before the Law of Moses was given. Jacob, his grandson vowed to give God a tenth of what he receives. He didn't limit it to gains.

So, the church pays tithe because Abraham, our father of faith did. And the scripture says that we should walk in the footsteps of Abraham.

MaxInDHouse:
So it's when God announced to the Israelites that tithing became official among worshipers of the true God not when Abraham paid that's why his descendants never practiced it until it was incorporated into the laws given to them.

But those laws includes animal sacrifices and burning of incense so do you still make animal sacrifices and incense burning today?
If you don't then all such practices has ended with the old covenant! Hebrews 7:11-12

Emusan:
These are misconceptions about Tithe and wrong interpretation of Heb 7:11-12.
There's no commandment in the NT to pay Tithe simply because the commandment already be given in the OT in which Jesus Himself will fulfill, so Jesus can't just annull Tithing because it's part of His mission.

MaxInDHouse:
First century Jewish Christians never practiced tithing!

Emusan:
Jesus is the High Priest!
True or false?

MaxInDHouse:
True!

The High Priest who never collected money as tithes from anybody!

Emusan:
Good!
So, when did the law stop payment of Tithe to the High Priest?

MaxInDHouse:
The law to pay tithe ended when the human system of priesthood end! Hebrews 7:11-12

Emusan:
Why did the writer allude to Melchizedek being given Tithe by Abraham as Jesus became a Priest in the ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK?
Note: Melchizedek was not portrayed as HUMAN PRIEST!

MaxInDHouse:
Melchizedek was given tenth part of what the patriarch got so Paul used it as example for his Jewish Christian brothers that they need to give Jesus the new High Priest something just as Abraham also gave Melchizedek something but since both Melchizedek and Jesus aren't physically present what they will give them can't be physical.

Today true Christians are giving their time directly to the High Priest by making sure they join others monthly to preach and teach in their neighbourhood just as the new High Priest Demanded from his own people! Matthew 10:11-13; 28:19-20

So whoever is paying money or physical things isn't giving that to the new High Priest because that's not what he demanded from his people!

Emusan:
JESUS never even CALLED HIMSELF HIGH PRIEST so how can you attributes Matt 10 to His High Priest?

Emusan:
Jesus is the High Priest!
True or false?